The Carolina Hurricanes were mathematically eliminated from the playoffs Tuesday night, the key word being “mathematically” because they were effectively eliminated from playoff contention months ago.
As well as they played in March – and in one stretch, they played as well as any team in franchise history, recording points in a record 13 games in a row (9-0-4) – their chance to make the playoffs came and went in January, when they had a chance to move into the eighth spot and didn’t. They instead lost five straight. Everything since has been exhibition.
And therein lies the danger.